Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario CSC was born on Oct 1, 1943 in Village Padrisibpur (Padrisibpur parish). His father’s name was Michael Ningel D’Rozario, and his mother was Dispina D’Rozario. His father was popularly called “shadhu” (a saintly person), as he lived in a spirit and manner of “shunning worldly way of life”. He wore red-color clothes. The family’s livelihood depended on farming, and followed an agricultural way of life.
Studies: Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario had his primary education in St. Alfred School at his home parish. He was a bright student and very dear to all the teachers. He was a very attentive student. In 1961 he completed with honors the SSC exams. Following this, he completed I.A. studies at Notre Dame College, Dhaka in 1964, and B.A. studies from the same College in 1966. Meanwhile, he completed a year of Novitiate in 1961 at Holy Cross Novitiate in Sagardi, Barishal. His First Profession as a Religious of the Congregation of Holy Cross transpired on June 14, 1962. He then entered Christ the King Seminary in Karachi in 1965, where he completed the Major Seminary Philosophical and Theological studies.
Priestly and Episcopal Ministry: He was ordained Priest in his home parish on Jan 8, 1972 by Bishop Joachim Rozario CSC, Bishop of Chittagong. In 1972-73, he worked as Assistant Pastor at Gournadi parish; at the same time, he was Director of the Gournadi CORR project. In 1973-76, he completed Licentiate studies in Moral Theology in Leuven, Belgium from 1976 to 1982, he was professor of Moral Theology at National Major Seminary (Holy Spirit Major Seminary) in Dhaka. During that same time, he was Dean of Studies and Assistant Director of Holy Cross Seminarians at Notre Dame College. From 1983 to 1990, he continued as part-time Professor of Moral Theology for the Major Seminary.
On May 21, 1990 he was nominated as the first Bishop of the new Diocese of Rajshahi. He received Episcopal Ordination on Sept 12, 1990 at Bonpara parish. On Feb 3, 1995 he was appointed Bishop of Chattogram, and was installed as Bishop of Chattogram on Apr 21, 1995. On Nov 25, 2010, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Dhaka, and installed as Archbishop of Dhaka on Jan 25, 2011. On Oct 9, 2016 Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario was elevated to Cardinal, an office he assumed on Nov 19, 2016. He retired as Archbishop of Dhaka on Nov 27, 2020.